A Few More - In the Garden

Photo Shoot Part II

As I mentioned in a past post, we decided to try to get some good shots of our own of our HS senior in addition to having some taken professionally.  Early on a Saturday we headed to the arboretum (along with many other photographers.)  Here are some of the best and some of the scenery, plants and flowers.

I Won!

When we returned from vacation and I had a chance to read my e-mails, I found out that I had won a drawing at Keep'n The Sunny Side.  Amy has such a nice blog with great, doable (is that a word?) crafts and recipes.  I also admire her photography.  This is the first time I've won an on-line drawing.  Both the candle and soap smell good and like fall.  If you get a chance, go visit Amy! She is having another giveaway that ends this Saturday.

Bayfield

Part way through our trip we switched locations.  Bayfield is a town right on Lake Superior by the Apostle Islands.  While we were there we stayed at Lucy's Place, the only bed & breakfast that allows children.  It was really nice--not super fancy, but comfortable.  The couple who own it have other jobs too.  The wife owns a quilt shop and the husband owns an apple orchard.  There were some lovely quilts hanging throughout the house.

We walked around the town and checked out a few of the shops including a Scandinavian Import store and Monkey Business.

The B & B had a couple of friendly huskies that the girls enjoyed.

On our full day we took a ferry over to Madeline Island.  It is the only Apostle Island that is not part of the Apostle Islands National Park.  There are people that live on it year round.  For a few weeks each winter the kids take a windsled taxi when the ferry can't get through to get to school in Bayfield.  Kids younger than fourth grade go to school on the island.

The younger two and hubby rode rental bikes to Big Bay State Park on the far side of the island.

Along the way they saw this.

The beach was lovely and the water isn't very deep until you are out pretty far. The next time we go, we'll probably take our car over on the ferry so that we can all easily go the the park.

The oldest and I didn't want to make the roughly thirteen mile bike ride to the park and back so we hung out at a small beach within walking distance of the ferry.

There were some ducks that were so tame that I followed them with the camera a bit.

In the evening our family was the sole participant of the Lighthearted Walking Tour of Bayfield.  It was really interesting to hear some of the history including how the cows used to have the run of the town and how the doctor's daughters used to watch out for him from a window when he had to make a call to Madeline Island.

There are some lovely old homes.  These are both now Inns.

This woman was our tour guide who pretended to be Nellie Tate, the pharmacist's wife, who lived in the late 1800's. 

The best part of staying at the B and B was having breakfast on the outdoor porch.  We had lots of fresh berries along with waffles one morning and an egg bake the next.  We're also on the lookout at our local co-op for the raspberry apple cider from the orchard.  It was fabulous. 

On our last day of vacation we took a hike over some semi-rough muddy terrain to see sea caves.  We do not have any good pictures of them since I do not stand too close for too long next to an unfenced cliff.  Here is a picture of some kayakers below.

This is Meyers Beach near the sea caves.  It was beautiful and pristine.  There were a few people there besides us, but not many.  I'm sure we'll be back.

Hayward

In mid-August we took a small vacation.  The first couple of days were spent in the resort town of Hayward, WI.  Here the girls are in our spacious room before it became the mess that inevitably happens with 5 people and suitcases.

Our first dinner was at Pine Ridge Resort by Stone Lake.  It was an all you can eat fish fry.  The girls love the fry bread lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar.  The fish is great too!  You also get slaw, chicken and fries or potato.  Go hungry!

The Comfort Inn is right on a lake.  The setting is lovely.

The hotel had a couple of paddle boats to rent for $10 an hour.  Hubby noticed the screwdrivers attached to them.  He was told they were to use if the chain slipped off.  It seemed a bit crowded so I stayed on shore and enjoyed my book. Bon voyage!

Over an hour later and after some worry and annoyance, one of the hotel employees came to ask me if I was Mrs. ...  She then told me that the chain had slipped off across the lake. My hubby couldn't get it back on and my family was getting a tow.

We went to this fun place in Shell Lake.

The girls painted pottery--a mug, a small cup and saucer, and a vase.  The creations are glazed and fired and shipped.  Very fun!

No vacation is complete without a rousing game of mini-golf.

The exercise room at the hotel was also an attraction.  Not pictured is the fabulous town candy store and the hunt for a missing tooth in the hotel swimming pool.  Stay tuned for Bayfield!